Opportunity in the Desert: Young Namibians Driving a Green Future

One begins his day among rows of thriving cucumber plants inside a greenhouse. The other monitors renewable energy systems powering one of Namibia's most innovative green industrial projects.

Together, they are contributing to the transformation of a remote corner of the Daures Constituency into a symbol of global innovation, national resilience and local hope, something the United Nations witnessed firsthand during a field visit to the Daures Green Hydrogen Village on 18 May 2026.

During the visit, United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Hopolang Phororo and FAO Officer in Charge Mr. Ferdinand Mwapopi found far more than a clean energy project. They witnessed a powerful example of how investment in people, skills and innovation can create opportunities in communities that have historically been left behind.

Located in one of Namibia's most economically vulnerable constituencies, the Daures Green Hydrogen Village is demonstrating how green industrialisation can deliver tangible benefits for local communities.

More than 400 jobs have been created during construction, including 115 positions filled by residents of the Daures Constituency. Seventy-seven per cent of employees are youth. The project has engaged more than 20 small and medium enterprises and includes a 10 per cent community shareholding, ensuring communities participate directly in its success.

For Jason and Jeremiah, these figures are not statistics. They are friends, neighbours and fellow young Namibians building futures for themselves and their communities.

Growing More Than Vegetables

For Agricultural Manager Jason Angula, transformation begins inside a greenhouse.

The facility produces approximately 40,000 cucumbers each month, strengthening food security while using resources efficiently, even in one of the world's most challenging environments.

Jason's journey mirrors the project's growth. He joined as an intern and progressed to become Agricultural Manager.

Today, he oversees operations that bring innovation and sustainability together in practice.

"When you wake up and see the plants growing, you know somebody is getting a meal because of what you do," he says. "That makes me happy."

For Jason, agriculture is about more than producing vegetables. It is about contributing to Namibia's food security while creating opportunities where they once seemed scarce.

Building Namibia's Green Future

A short distance away, Jeremiah Petrus is helping build another part of the Daures story.

An electrical engineer, he studied in China before specialising in renewable energy and hydrogen technologies in Germany. Like many talented graduates, he could have pursued opportunities abroad but, he chose to return home.

Today, he operates systems that are laying the foundation for Namibia's emerging green hydrogen sector.

"We are among the first Namibians working on technologies like this," he says. "If we can do it, then the next generation can do it too."

At Daures, renewable energy, fertilizer production and agriculture are integrated into a circular model that strengthens food security, supports local production and creates new economic opportunities.

For Jeremiah, the technology matters, but the opportunities it creates matter even more.

More Than Colleagues: A Shared Purpose

Life in Daures is not always easy. The site is far from cities and many everyday conveniences of urban life.

Yet neither Jason nor Jeremiah speaks about sacrifice.

Instead, they speak about purpose.

"We have become brothers," Jeremiah says. "People come from different regions and backgrounds, but we are all working toward the same goal."

Together, they are helping challenge perceptions about what young Namibians can achieve and demonstrating that world-class expertise can be developed and applied at home.

Training the Next Generation

The vision for Daures extends well beyond those currently employed on site.

In July 2025, the Accelerate to Demonstrate (A2D) Training Programme under UNIDO, was launched to train 250 Namibians over an 18-month period, with a focus on unemployed young women from previously disadvantaged communities.

Participants receive practical training in agronomy, renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies, alongside mentorship and support to help them enter the emerging green economy.

The objective is simple: create pathways for more Namibians to benefit from the opportunities of the green transition.

What the United Nations Learned

The Daures Green Hydrogen Village aligns with Namibia's Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025–2029, advancing economic transformation, green growth, food security and youth employment.

For the United Nations, the project demonstrates how a just transition can create opportunities for young people, strengthen local value chains and ensure communities benefit from investment.

Reflecting on the visit, United Nations Resident Coordinator Hopolang Phororo said:

"What impressed me most in Daures was not the technology, but the people behind it. Jason and Jeremiah represent the talent, innovation and determination that Namibia needs to drive a just and inclusive green transition. Their story shows that when young people are given opportunities, they do not simply participate in development, they lead it. This is how we ensure that green industrialisation creates jobs, strengthens communities and leaves no one behind."

As the sun sets over the Namib Desert, the greenhouses remain alive with activity and the renewable energy systems continue quietly powering innovation.

Jason continues helping grow food in the desert. Jeremiah continues helping build a new industry.

Together, they are helping Namibia see what is possible.

Because in the middle of the Namib Desert, where others see heat, rock and silence, Jason and Jeremiah are helping Namibia see its future.